Uncategorized February 14, 2017
Even after 500 years, The Bard’s plays and poems are still considered some of the best in the world. Well, for those that can understand him, because reading Shakespeare isn’t always a walk in the park.
Languages are constantly evolving, which means that literature from 500 years ago is dramatically different from today and can be really difficult to decipher. And we’re not talking about just word definitions, we’re talking about how the entire sentence structure can be flipped.
So if you’re having trouble getting through a poem or play by Shakespeare, follow these five tips and you’ll learn to understand him in no time.
Especially when you first start reading Shakespeare, you see words you’ve never seen before and words which then meant something different than they do now. The trick is to get an annotated copy of the play you’re reading. So if you see a confusing word or sentence, you can look to the side or at the bottom of the page, where you’ll find definitions.
Sometimes, reading Shakespeare can get a bit overwhelming. You trip over words or sections you don’t understand and you want to give up. Don’t get hung up on one sentence for half an hour. Instead, just keep reading, skipping the parts you don’t understand right now and getting a feel for the plot and characters. After you start to get into the flow of Shakespeare’s writing, you can always go back and reread.
Now that you’ve got a feel for the language and the structure Shakespeare used, go back and reread the text (or at least the sections you didn’t understand before). You could even check an online summary to make sure you understand the plot correctly before diving into a rereading of the text.
Drama is meant to be performed on a stage. When we only read a play, we’re missing out on so many of the nuances of the actors, the costumes, the setting and all those other little details that make us feel like we’re back in the 16th century. If you’re having a difficult time with Shakespeare (or even if you just want to see the play performed) watch it online or see if there are any local productions.
Shakespeare may be difficult at first, but the more you read his work, the easier he is to understand. Before you know it, you’ll be finishing a play in a day or even within a few hours. The key thing to remember is that you should be enjoying it! It was written as entertainment, to make you feel all the love, joy, pain and despair that the characters are feeling.
If you need a reminder of how great Shakespeare actually is, here are some quotes that show how he was able to use language to his benefit:
He made us think:
“As he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” – “Julius Caesar” Act II, Scene II
“Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”– “Macbeth” Act V, Scene V
He was insulting:
“I do desire we may be better strangers.” – “As You Like It” Act III, Scene II
“I wonder that you will still be talking. Nobody marks you.” – “Much Ado About Nothing” Act I, Scene I
He made us sad:
“Affliction is enamour’d of thy parts, and thou art wedded to calamity.” – “Romeo and Juliet” Act III, Scene III
He showed us how to express love:
“Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly at your service.”– “The Tempest” Act III, Scene I
“Doubt that the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move his aides, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love.” – “Hamlet” Act II, Scene II
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